Billy Graham: Don’t allow greed to rule your life

Q: What’s the difference between wanting to make a good living for yourself and your family and actually being greedy? I admit I think about money a lot, but does that make me greedy? – D.R.K.

A: It’s not wrong to want to work hard and provide for your family — not at all. Even an ant, the Bible says, diligently “stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest” — and so should we (Proverbs 6:8).

But greed drives us to seek more and more, and a greedy person is never satisfied with what they already have. To put it another way, instead of controlling their money, their money ends up controlling them. A greedy person becomes consumed with their things and their wealth, and anything and anyone that gets in the way is pushed aside. The Bible wisely says, “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income” (Ecclesiastes 5:10).

Only you can say if greed has crept into your life — but if it has, repent of it, and be constantly on guard against it in the future. Greed destroys; it destroys us, and it destroys those around us. Jesus warned, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24).

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The key, however, is to make Christ — and not things — the center and foundation of your life. Have you committed your life to him, and are you seeking his will for your life every day? Make sure of your commitment to him. Then ask him to help you to be faithful in providing for your family and your future, while avoiding the sin of greed.